Future Minoga ship-based helicopter (Ka-27 Replacement) to enter production in 10 years

Future Minoga ship-based helicopter (Ka-27 Replacement) to enter production in 10 years

Posted On
Wednesday, 24 August 2016 11:18

a

Naval
Aviation News - Russia

Future Minoga ship-based helicopter (Ka-27 Replacement) to enter production
in 10 years

The future ship-borne helicopter being developed under the Minoga program
will enter production in 10 years, Sergei Mikheyev, general designer,
Kamov JSC (a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters), has told TASS.

Computer rendering of Minoga

"This
is no rumor. A decision has been made for Kamov as an expert in ship-based
naval helicopters to launch its development. The development has just
begun. I think it will take around 10 years. When a helicopter’s
official tests are completed, when it enters production and the military
starts its operational evaluation, that is the time we consider it developed,"
Mikheyev said.

Ka-27PL ASW Helicopter deploying a dipping sonar. Picture: A.Zabusik

According
to the general designer, the Russian Navy’s command "has
agreed that a new-generation helicopter is needed." Mikheyev
noted that the future machine, tentatively dubbed Minoga, would have Kamov’s
trademark coaxial rotor design. "There is no option. I guess
the coaxial rotor design owns the future owing to its aerodynamic features,"
he said.

Kamov’s general designer noted that the extended operation of the
Ka-27 (NATO reporting name: Helix) heavy helicopter would enable the designers
to complete their work on the Minoga on schedule. "Now, it [the
Ka-27] is the Navy’s basic helicopter that has based on ships and
flown for as long as 30 years. There are several versions of the type,
with over 400 machines built to date," Mikheyev said, adding
the Admiral Kuznetsov (Kuznetsov-class) aircraft carrier would have five
variants of the Ka-27 on board this year.